Edmund w



(No Model.)

E. W. 'WOODRUPP. CABINET FOR FILE HOLDERS.

No. 335,668. Patented Feb.

moawboz BMW same final lock.

EDMUND \V. 'WOODRUFF, OF WVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CABINET FOR FILE-HOLDERS.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,668, dated February9,1886.

7 Application filed October-Q0, 1885. Serial No. 180;4]. No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND W. W ooDRUrr, of Washington, in the Districtof Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Looks toSecure File Holders or Boxes in their Cases or Cabinets; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and accurate description of thesame.

This invention relates to cases or cabinets adapted to receive file orpaper holders of the general character of well-known VVoodruffFileHoldei-s, or boxes or drawers adapted or fitted to shelves orpigeon-holes of a case or cabinet; and it consists of a locking-strip-orseries of locking strips concealed in the frame or shelf, and adapted todescend in front of the tops or upper ends of the file-holders, so thatsaid strip obstructs the way and prevents the withdrawal of said holdersfrom their places. \Vhen the cabinet comprises several shelves for thefile-holders,it is desirable to actuate all the lockingstrips by thesame manual movement and secure them all in position by the In practiceI have preferred to employ a semi-cylinder for a lockingstrip, wherebyit may be moved into or out of action by a quarter-revolution on itscylinder-axis,

it being out of action when its plane side lies horizontal and in actionwhen said side stand vertical.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aperspective view ofone ofmycabinets,partly in section,with my improvement added. Figs. 2 and 3 areperspective views of shelf and locking-strip detached. Figs. 4, 5, and 6are elevations showing the action of the lockingst-rip, rack-bars, andcam. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the eccentric segnientcani.

A is the case or cabinet, and B B are the file holders or boxes, adaptedto properly fill the shelves D.

O O are the locking-strips, each half a cylinder, fitted in asemi-cylindrical groove, d, made in the under side of the shelf, sothatthe plane side eshall be flush with the under side of the shelf Dwhen horizontal. It will not then offer any obstruction to the passageof the fileholder in or out. (See Figs. 3 and 4.) W hen said strip isrevolved one-quarter turn, its plane side e will stand vertical andproject downward in front of the file holders or boxes and prevent theirremoval, as shown in Fig. 5. At each end and at as many intermediatepoints as desired the strip 0 is provided with cylindrical portions,toserve as axial hearings. At each end said strip is provided with asegnient-gear, g, and in mesh therewith a rack, h, attached to a bar,'5. The endwise movement of said bar causes all the strips 0 connectedtherewith, as described, to be simnltaneously revolved and the inclosedfile holders or boxes to be locked in. It is not neces sary to employthe segment-gears and rackstrip at both ends of the locking-strip, butit is preferable to do so to obviate torsion of the locking-strips. Therack-strips movein proper grooves concealed in the ends of the case A.

For convenience in handling and examining papers,the cabinet generallyinuse to hold my file-boxes is provided with a falling leaf or shelf, J,hinged at one edge to and fitted to turn up against the face of thecabinet and be.

locked there, thus wholly covering one shelf and the file holders orboxes thereon. My invention, however, comprehends the connection of therack-strips z with the falling leaflso that the opening or closing ofsaid leaf will likewise cause all the rack-strips to reciprocatesimultaneously, and be held in place as long as said falling leafremains at rest.

Operative connection between the falling leaf J and the rack-bars may bemade with a variety of mechanical expedients-as, for instance,by segmentand rack, by a connectinglink, 850.; but I prefer a reciprocating cammoving in. a notch, m, in the rack-bar ii or between pins o, settherein. This cam may be straight, as at t, attached to a slide, n, Fig.6; but I prefer to make it in the form of an eccentric segment, K,attached to the falling leaf J, and thereby when said leaf is raised itcauses said rack-bars to rise also and the locking-strips to berevolved, as and with the effect set forth. The eccentricity of thesegmentKis shown by the dotted line 1). The segmentKalso serves tosupport said leaf when turned down. This device for lockingthefile-holders in the cabinet may be applied to chests of drawers andsimilar articles of furniture.

I am aware that multiple locks of various kinds for fastening severaldrawers with a single key are common, and therefore I do not IOO claim,broadly, mechanism to produce thatreshelves D, adapted to hold fileholders or boxes sult.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In aoabinetorcase providedwith shelves D and adapted to receive file holders or boxes to holdpapers, &o., a semi-cylinderlookingstrip,O,fitted to rotate in a groove,(1, combined with a segment-gear, g, and rack-bar t, where by thelongitudinal movement of said rackbar causes the looking-strip to rotateinto or out of position of action.

2. In a cabinet or case, A, provided with shelves D and adapted toreceive file holders or boxes to hold papers, &c., a series ofhalfoylinder looking-strips, C, fitted to rotate in semi-cylindricgrooves cl, combined with the segment-gears g and rack-bars i, wherebythe longitudinal movement of said rack-bars causes a simultaneousmovement of all the locking 2o strips of the series, as set forth.

to hold papers, &o.',a series of semi-cylindrical lookingstrips, O,fitted to rotate in grooves (Z, and provided with segment-gears g and areciprocating rack-bar, z, in mesh therewith, combined with areciprocating cam in engagement with said rack-bar, for the purpose ofactuating the same and the strips 0, as set forth.

4. In a cabinet or case, A, provided with shelves D, and adapted toreceive file holders or boxes for holding papers or other articles,aseries of locking-strips, O. substantially as set forth, segment-gearsy, and reciprocating rack bars a, combined with the eccentriccam-segment K and the falling leaf J, substantially as set forth.

EDMUND XV. \VOODRUFF.

In presence of EDWIN L. HALL, R. D. 0. SMITH.

